Friday, March 2, 2012

Bacon Cheddar Whoopie Bites


I found this recipe while searching for new party food ideas. The name caught my attention first...bacon cheddar whoopie bites?! Whoopie pies are sweet, right? Ok so they're not actually anything like a whoopie pie but they kind of look like a whoopie pie so why not? After reading through the recipe, I thought they sounded  like a Southern style cheese straw, kind of a cheesy savory shortbread.  These cheese straws have one up on ordinary cheese straws. These are sandwiched together with a cream filling. It sounded like a great combo to me. Besides they have bacon in them so they're already "Winning"....(hmm maybe it's the whoopie part that brought that Charlie Sheen quote to mind...;)  

 
Bacon Cheddar Whoopie Bites
Source: Teresa Smith, Santa Rosa, CA, Bake-Off 2012 (adapted) 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup ricotta cheese, room temperature
6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 cup butter, cut into pieces
2 cups finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
8 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
2 to 3 tablespoons ice water

    Method:
    Heat oven to 400°F. Spray large cookie sheets with no-stick cooking spray or line with cooking parchment paper. To make filling, in medium bowl, beat ricotta cheese and cream cheese with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Add milk; beat on medium speed 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Stir in lemon peel. Cover; refrigerate.

    In food processor, add flour, baking powder and red pepper. Process until well blended. Add butter and process until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add cheddar cheese, pecans and bacon. Process with on-and-off pulses until mixture is consistency of fine crumbs. With food processor running, gradually add enough water through feed tube and process just until dough pulls away from side of bowl and forms a ball.

    Shape dough into 1 1/4–inch balls; place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Using fingers, press each ball into about a 2-inch round.

Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.

Spread or pipe about 1 tablespoon filling on bottom of half of the rounds. Top with remaining rounds, bottom sides down. Store covered in refrigerator. Assemble these bites a couple of hours before you plan to serve them to let the flavors blend.
These savory whoopie bites just maybe the hit of your next party!

10 comments:

Jennifer Kendall said...

such a yummy and clever idea! love it!

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Love this innovative idea!!!!

Alice the Baker said...

OMG I never thought of combining bacon and cheddar to create whoopie bites. I can't wait to try this myself. Thank you for sharing such a creative idea!!!!

Charlotte + Jade said...

What an awesome idea! Great appetisers for dinner parties I think.

Please check out the whoopie pies I made too, at fashionwaffle.blogspot.com!

Charlotte :-)

grace said...

savory whoopie pies? well, i never! terrific and outstanding idea!

Jooolz said...

They look really yummy! I am gonna try them with red onion instead of bacon as I am veggie, can't wait!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

My book club would love that treat. Such a great idea!

Teresa Smith said...

Hey thanks so much for posting about my recipe for the Bake-off! I think you're photos are alot better than the theirs. :) They had made an error and photographed them with HALF the amount of filling. I had to bring it to their attention and they did fix, but no time to retake photo.

Anyone making this let me suggest that you cook longer, or until the edges and bottoms are browned. I do 7 minutes, then switch pan position, and 7 more min. Makes them crisper and cheesier. And if you can't find the Fisher Praline Pecans (which I see you didn't use here) then check out the candied pecans at Trader Joe's. almost exactly the same. Glad you like my savory Bacon Cheddar Whoopie Bites (Pies)!
Teresa

Half Baked said...

Hi Teresa, Thanks for the tips on your recipe! They are DELICIOUS! I live in a small town and couldn't find any praline pecans but I imagine they add the perfect touch of sweetness to these whoopie bites. Congrats on your recipe making it to the Bake-Off and thanks for the comment!

Teresa Smith said...

My pleasure HB! Keep up the good work on your blog!!